'Shrimp Cocktails, Cakes & Walnuts': Indian Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla Enjoys Meal With Axiom-4 Crew Ahead Of Homecoming On July 14- PICS

Indian Astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, along with other crew members of the Axiom-4 mission, are set to return to Earth from the International Space Station (ISS) on July 14, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) said on Thursday. Ahead of his homecoming, Grp Cpt Shukla enjoyed a feast with his colleagues onboard ISS.

In the images released on social media, the Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot and other crew members of the Axiom-4 mission could be seen floating in zero gravity while enjoying the meal. It showcased camaraderie between the Axiom-4 crew.

The images were shared by US astronaut Jonny Kim on his Instagram handle. The Axiom-4 crew members had rehydrated shrimp cocktails and crackers for appetizers. Meanwhile, the main course includes savory chicken, cake made from sweet bread, condensed milk, and walnuts.

Shubhanshu Shukla with Axiom-4 crew members enjoying meal on ISS

"One of the most unforgettable evenings I’ve experienced on this mission was sharing a meal with new friends, Ax-4, aboard the @iss. We swapped stories and marveled at how people from diverse backgrounds and nations came together to represent humanity in space," the caption of Kim's Instagram post read.

Shubhanshu Shukla with Axiom-4 crew members enjoying meal on ISS

"For appetizers, we made rehydrated shrimp cocktails and crackers. Our main course featured savory chicken and beef fajitas, and the cosmonauts capped the night with a delicious cake made from sweet bread, condensed milk, and walnuts," it added.

Shubhanshu Shukla with Axiom-4 crew members enjoying meal on ISS

The other three members of Axiom-4 are- Peggy Whitson, a former NASA astronaut and director of human spaceflight at Axiom Space, Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland, and HUNOR (Hungarian to Orbit) astronaut Tibor Kapu of Hungary.

Shubhanshu Shukla with Axiom-4 crew members enjoying meal on ISS

"We are working with the station program, watching the Axiom-4 progress carefully. I think we need to undock that mission, and the current target to undock is July 14 after the high beta period," Steve Stitch, Manager, NASA Commercial Crew Program, told a press conference.

The Axiom-4 mission was launched from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida on June 25, and the Dragon spacecraft docked at the International Space Station on June 26 after a 28-hour journey.

A "high beta period" for the space station refers to times when the angle between the ISS's orbital plane and the sun is high, typically above 70 degrees, reported IANS.

During these periods, the ISS experiences near-constant sunlight, as it spends a greater portion of each orbit in daylight. This can cause overheating and requires careful thermal management by NASA.

Shukla and his Axiom-4 crew have witnessed 230 sunrises onboard the International Space Station (ISS) and travelled nearly 100 lakh kms in space at the end of two weeks on the orbital laboratory.